Advice for a beginning personal trainer?

[GymDudeVA]

I just got my ACE certification. I’d like to start as a trainer, but I am completely new at it and a little intimidated about how to start.

I am 47 years old and have a solid, unrelated day job. I’d just like to train part-time, but I have zero experience! I’m a decent amateur competitive bodybuilder, helped lots of friends to work out correctly, I’m a really good teacher, etc.. I’d be willing to start “at the bottom”, and the money is secondary to me.

I was thinking of just asking at my own Gold’s if they would hire me. Can it be that simple? Can I just call up the gyms of my choice and ask to come in and talk to someone? Or would it be best to look for openings on-line? Do I need a resume?

Any advice? Thanks.

[Diesel City]

Have your clients stand on half a swiss ball and do a bunch of one legged dumbbell curls. You'll be raking in the dough in no time!

[BigCracker]

Most gyms will hire anyone with a cert. Apparently appearance and real world application of training techniques have little bearing on getting hired at most gyms. Do you want this to evolve into a full time gig??? If so, there's a couple ways to go about it. I recommend finding a gym that will allow you to train clients as an independent. The perks of being an indy is that you can pick and choose your clients. Personally, I hate training fat middle aged chicks that refuse to give up doughnuts, fast food etc. They bitch about everything including how their husband won't bang them anymore cuz their ass is too big. Often they wind up blaming their trainer for their lack of discipline and will power. As an indy, reputation is everything. The last thing you need is some porker trash talking you to everyone around town. On the other hand, if this client is one of the 10% of fat chicks that will actually listen and follow directions, praising you to her friends could begin a huge ripple effect of increased clientele. Another perk of being indy is being able to set your own hours, etc. On the downside of being an indy you often have to pay the gym rent. Some gyms in my area charge trainers $1K a month to train their clients. Clients still have to buy a gym membership on their own. If you only train peeps p/t, this probably won't be worth it unless you're willing to fork out the big $$$ until you have an established clientele.

Being a gym employed trainer might be your best bet at this point. Unfortunately the gym often takes 50% or more of what you charge clients per session. You are also required to train whoever they pair you up with. This includes fat couch potatoes, frumpy new moms, severely depressed individuals, and delusional people that think showing up to the gym 3x a week will get them looking like the fitness elite in 2 weeks(as they drive across the gym parking lot to eat a post workout meal of KFC). Anywho, once you get a few decent clients that get results, and more importantly, ones who can afford your services, perhaps you can switch your established clientele to a gym that takes indys?

All that I can say is that being a pt may seem glamorous and rewarding, but there will be plenty of pitfills, disappointments, and business related experiences that will strengthen or weaken your desires to succeed. It's tough trying to help people that don't want to help themselves. However, there are clients out there that are not beyond help. Unfortunately in the early stages of being a pt you can't afford to cherry pick your clients. Good luck!!!

[MartyMcFly1]

Originally Posted by BigCracker

Most gyms will hire anyone with a cert. Apparently appearance and real world application of training techniques have little bearing on getting hired at most gyms. Do you want this to evolve into a full time gig??? If so, there's a couple ways to go about it. I recommend finding a gym that will allow you to train clients as an independent. The perks of being an indy is that you can pick and choose your clients. Personally, I hate training fat middle aged chicks that refuse to give up doughnuts, fast food etc. They bitch about everything including how their husband won't bang them anymore cuz their ass is too big. Often they wind up blaming their trainer for their lack of discipline and will power. As an indy, reputation is everything. The last thing you need is some porker trash talking you to everyone around town. On the other hand, if this client is one of the 10% of fat chicks that will actually listen and follow directions, praising you to her friends could begin a huge ripple effect of increased clientele. Another perk of being indy is being able to set your own hours, etc. On the downside of being an indy you often have to pay the gym rent. Some gyms in my area charge trainers $1K a month to train their clients. Clients still have to buy a gym membership on their own. If you only train peeps p/t, this probably won't be worth it unless you're willing to fork out the big $$$ until you have an established clientele.

Being a gym employed trainer might be your best bet at this point. Unfortunately the gym often takes 50% or more of what you charge clients per session. You are also required to train whoever they pair you up with. This includes fat couch potatoes, frumpy new moms, severely depressed individuals, and delusional people that think showing up to the gym 3x a week will get them looking like the fitness elite in 2 weeks(as they drive across the gym parking lot to eat a post workout meal of KFC). Anywho, once you get a few decent clients that get results, and more importantly, ones who can afford your services, perhaps you can switch your established clientele to a gym that takes indys?

All that I can say is that being a pt may seem glamorous and rewarding, but there will be plenty of pitfills, disappointments, and business related experiences that will strengthen or weaken your desires to succeed. It's tough trying to help people that don't want to help themselves. However, there are clients out there that are not beyond help. Unfortunately in the early stages of being a pt you can't afford to cherry pick your clients. Good luck!!!

great post. thats why 90% or something around that of us personal trainers give up in the first 6 months or something like that. percervere. go with the gym first, get people to recognize you, get some "success stories" and see if clients will let you do before and after photos. once you've trained at the gym for 6 month - 2 years (depends on how much you can put yourslef out there) then go solo... either make a deal with a gym as indy or open your own gym (very hard to maintain). like crack said, you do "take it in the butt" when you go with a gym, but hey, its still DECENT money, and you don't have anyone giving you credibility.

[Dad]

Originally Posted by GymDudeVA

I just got my ACE certification. I’d like to start as a trainer, but I am completely new at it and a little intimidated about how to start.

I am 47 years old and have a solid, unrelated day job. I’d just like to train part-time, but I have zero experience! I’m a decent amateur competitive bodybuilder, helped lots of friends to work out correctly, I’m a really good teacher, etc.. I’d be willing to start “at the bottom”, and the money is secondary to me.

I was thinking of just asking at my own Gold’s if they would hire me. Can it be that simple? Can I just call up the gyms of my choice and ask to come in and talk to someone? Or would it be best to look for openings on-line? Do I need a resume?

Any advice? Thanks.

I used to teach the ACE Certificatrion course, and did lots of time (as in being in prison for years, LOL!) as a personal trainer.

Gyms are interested in SALES - period. THey couldn't care much how qualified yuo are as long as yuo're "certified" in some fashion, and don't hurt people (thus increasing their liablility). Bally's, for example, ranks their trainers as Level I, Level II, Level III, and so on. Know what it takes to be ranked Level I? Highest SALES. Most of them don't know shit.

Ok, a tip? Remember that the public is more weak and out of shape than you can imagine. THe first few warm-up sets for most serious trainees would leave them crippling sore for days. Whatever yuo think the lightest, pussiest workout yuo can imagine is, cut it in half to start people out - seriously. It will take them weeks to even begin to be able to push themselves physically, and longer yet to push mentally.

We also live in an "instant results" society. People honestly believe they can get in shape and lose 20+ lbs in a month or so. THis, of course, does not happen, so expect turnover.

You will also be a lot like people's bartender in that yuo'll hear about all their personal problems and life, and they'll expect yuo to be riveted to these fascinating stories, because after all, they're paying for yuor time.

Diesel City is, I'm sure, joking, but that's the kind of lame shit that passes for "training" these days. You'll see lots of it being done by "trainers." Pilates lingo, with lots of emphasis on "core" (people are not apples), and "stablizors," has taken over training approaches, as well as lots of balistic-type stretching (if yuo want to help yuor clients with stretching teach them to do PNF stretching, and avoid "partner" stretching).

I honestly wish yuo the best, because I couldn't do it any more. Feel free to PM with questions if yuo like.

[Buildinthaskinnys]

The perks of being an indy is that you can pick and choose your clients. Personally, I hate training fat middle aged chicks that refuse to give up doughnuts, fast food etc. They bitch about everything including how their husband won't bang them anymore cuz their ass is too big. Often they wind up blaming their trainer for their lack of discipline and will power.

On the other hand, if this client is one of the 10% of fat chicks that will actually listen and follow directions, praising you to her friends could begin a huge ripple effect of increased clientele.

You are also required to train whoever they pair you up with. This includes fat couch potatoes, frumpy new moms, severely depressed individuals, and delusional people that think showing up to the gym 3x a week will get them looking like the fitness elite in 2 weeks(as they drive across the gym parking lot to eat a post workout meal of KFC).

It's tough trying to help people that don't want to help themselves. However, there are clients out there that are not beyond help.

I realize that this is unrelated to the original post, But Big Cracker maybe these people that you trained in the past could have benefited from a trainer that didnt have a shitty ass attitude and a "im better than you because my body looks better" mentality. If these people didnt want to improve themselves why would they pay for your services? why did you get into training people? So that you can train the 23 year old, 5 pounds away from a perfect 10 girl all day long?

[readyset]

stay away from eft companies unless you love sales.

I'll elaborate. eft companies are "out sourced personal training companies." they, in theory, step into a gym to "clean up a training department." What they do however, is much different. The trend with it now is to charge members a monthly fee to train x amount of times per week, usually 1-5. The members sign up for between 1-12 months, depending ont he establishment and at the end have payed anywhere from a 1000 to 5000 dollars for personal training.

what really happens is a completely different story. 8 out of 10 trainers who continue to workfor these companies are salesmen. They give a session (the pitch) and then sell a contract whether the client wants it or not. there are all kinds of traps in the contracts, the best being the "auto renewal." which is, unless the gym is notified x amount of days in advanced, you will continue to purchase sessions on a month to month basis. Normally, a client would b enotified of this, but in most cases they are not and end up paying more money than they wanted.

trainers are paid liek crap, but are told that "comission" will make up for it. ive been paid between 9 and 15 dollars per session, for half hour sessions. and given betweern 5 and 10% comission on sales, sometimes split.

These companies are, primarily, out to screw you. So be very careful with them. "the eft group" and "proffessional fitness" to name a couple.

Yes, there is a sales portion to personal training, you need to be amicable and knowledgeable for repeat business. but, it seems the days of the "10 pack" and "5 pack" are dwindling.

So get out there, get some experience, be honest and passionate and you will do well (season and economy depending)

/end anti-outsource training rant

not all of these companies are terrible but, but just be very careful of what youre getting youself into when you apply or work with these guys. they are very manipulative, and very good at what they do (until customer satisfaction plummits).

[jfunk316]

I quit being a personal trainer for a gym because of most of the things people here are warning you about. The other biggest reason is that they train people for instant results, meaning burning MUSCLE and FAT to lose the inches and pounds so that someone will re-sign, I believe in the fact that some muscle has to be lost but I train people for a lifestyle change so that they can be healthy even after we finish training. I got in trouble for teaching these things instead of core work all the time. IF you have a middle aged woman doing some strength training in her workouts people act like your trying to make her a body builder, the ignorance of people working in gyms I guess got me the most. My old roommate still trains there (he took my clients that understood our principles) and still gets in trouble for not following the right training techniques yet his clients can perform circles around the other trainers because the have built some muscle mass while burning fat. I could go on forever on all the silly things people have clients do just to get more money from them. I have one lady I still help train a couple times per week for FREE because she is amazing at listen, has thyroid problems and we have taken her from 240 to 185 in a year and she is just now getting the medicine dosages at the doc fixed up. Also, she can out perform most of the people at the gym we do a dynamics class on Tues. nights and she makes the other trainers gasp and how hard she can go... Shit sometimes she outworks me in there. Sorry for the ramble.

Personal training is the most rewarding thing ever when you find good people. So, I wish you the best of luck finding those clients!!!!

[mulbemurphy]

I would recommend a resume, show the person you are serious. I own a martial arts gym, we also have a fair amount of weight equipment. I did one on one training for a while and like others have stated, get ready to be a therapist. I solved this problem by only training in group sessions. It is easier to get clients if they share the cost of your time. 4 clients @ 15.00 each for an hour. The time goes by fast. I teach anywhere from 2-20 at a time. We do basic bodybuilding movements with some crossfit training added. We were doing Crosssfit 20 yrs ago, now its the rage across the nation. It gets a person in shape. And yes they expect to lose 10 lbs a wk, since they have seen others do it on The Biggest Loser Program. I would recommend Golds gym as a start, get some business cards 1000 and see how fast you can get rid of them. After you get enough clients you can move elsewhere if interested. There is a high turnover of trainers at my local Golds, mainly because they expect you to work a split schedule early morning and then comeback at nite. Your name gets out fast if you are a good motivator and they see results.

[BigCracker]

Originally Posted by Buildinthaskinnys

The perks of being an indy is that you can pick and choose your clients. Personally, I hate training fat middle aged chicks that refuse to give up doughnuts, fast food etc. They bitch about everything including how their husband won't bang them anymore cuz their ass is too big. Often they wind up blaming their trainer for their lack of discipline and will power.

On the other hand, if this client is one of the 10% of fat chicks that will actually listen and follow directions, praising you to her friends could begin a huge ripple effect of increased clientele.

You are also required to train whoever they pair you up with. This includes fat couch potatoes, frumpy new moms, severely depressed individuals, and delusional people that think showing up to the gym 3x a week will get them looking like the fitness elite in 2 weeks(as they drive across the gym parking lot to eat a post workout meal of KFC).

It's tough trying to help people that don't want to help themselves. However, there are clients out there that are not beyond help.

I realize that this is unrelated to the original post, But Big Cracker maybe these people that you trained in the past could have benefited from a trainer that didnt have a shitty ass attitude and a "im better than you because my body looks better" mentality. If these people didnt want to improve themselves why would they pay for your services? why did you get into training people? So that you can train the 23 year old, 5 pounds away from a perfect 10 girl all day long?

Wow. Aren't you the judgemental one??? Most people that embark upon a fitness journey have no intentions of achieving their fitness goals. After all they've probably already tried and failed a half a dozen times before already. Why should this time be any different??? I can offer all the motivation and education I can but it won't mean a thing if they can't give up ice cream, beer, and french fries.

Often people pay trainers so they have someone other than themselves to blame for not getting in shape. I've had women clients that piss and moan about how hard they are dieting but not seeeing visible changes. They say they're dieting so strictly and that the haven't drank booze in months. Later that evening I catch them in the grocery store 1/2 drunk with a bag of cheetos in one hand and a twelver of Bud in the other. They swear it's just a "one time thing" until I catch them doing it again 2 days later. Now I'm the asshole??? I'll avoid these types altogether thanks. I can make just as much $$$ off the clients that are truly serious, so why even attempt to help the ones that are all talk??? You think I have a bad attitude? I'm just a realist.

[Buildinthaskinnys]

Originally Posted by BigCracker

Wow. Aren't you the judgemental one??? Most people that embark upon a fitness journey have no intentions of achieving their fitness goals. After all they've probably already tried and failed a half a dozen times before already. Why should this time be any different??? I can offer all the motivation and education I can but it won't mean a thing if they can't give up ice cream, beer, and french fries.

Often people pay trainers so they have someone other than themselves to blame for not getting in shape. I've had women clients that piss and moan about how hard they are dieting but not seeeing visible changes. They say they're dieting so strictly and that the haven't drank booze in months. Later that evening I catch them in the grocery store 1/2 drunk with a bag of cheetos in one hand and a twelver of Bud in the other. They swear it's just a "one time thing" until I catch them doing it again 2 days later. Now I'm the asshole??? I'll avoid these types altogether thanks. I can make just as much $$$ off the clients that are truly serious, so why even attempt to help the ones that are all talk??? You think I have a bad attitude? I'm just a realist.

Your terrible attitude is only surpassed by your terrible atittude.

[BigCracker]

Originally Posted by Buildinthaskinnys

Your terrible attitude is only surpassed by your terrible atittude.

Take a peak at the other active PT thread. You will see that I'm not alone. Would I be a better person if I offered false promises, smoke, and mirrors, like 90% of the PT's out there??? I'm not that desperate, so I can pick and choose my clientele based on my own screening process.

You'd be surprised how many non-fitness enthusiasts believe that they can have an awesome bod just by circuit training 3x a week without giving up booze, McDonalds, and a demanding social life. Telling some to give up their daily 2 liter of Coca Cola alone often illicits a look on their faces as if I asked them to give up sex or oxygen.

[Sal Paradise]

Here's a little more info.
I ran the PT dept at a few big clubs - the type that are all based on sales.
If you honestly want to help people you can do it in one of these clubs but you must be very rigid in what you do and don't fall into the sales bullshit stuff.
THey want everyone to sell PT if you're "only" a trainer then it's upgrades constantly. I know I did that to my people. I finally quit because that's not what I signed up for.

Basically, everyone here has pointed out the good and bad.
The only thing you have to be watchfull of is the big clubs rarely if ever allow independent personal trainers. It takes away from their EFT which can be alot more that the rent you may pay. Especially if you're good and take away some of their clients.
You wont find many places that have a "house" staff and allow indys.

You can learn the ropes from being a member of a house staff and you cxan learn a lot!
I was in charge of over 30 trainers if you count both gyms and I was the one who sold the PT. I didn't mind because I truly believed in my trainers and believe in the prodcut. I lost it when the corp started lying to me and my trainers but thats another story.

The big clubs also want you to typically have 40 hr "Open" schedule so they can have you filled up in the busy times, you end up with a split shift.
Many don't want just part time but if you can it would be a good way into the business.

Just look at all the info and I also would be willing to give some advise as DAD offered if you like.
I can give you the point of view from the guy who had to hit a quota of 70K every two weeks of training sales and what those companies really do and think about.

Like I said those big clubs can be a great learning tool but don't get too jaded by it.
One of my plans is to still open my own place and have personal training be the focus. I learned a great deal about what to do as well as what NOT to do.
And of course the "sales" side of it as well.


Shoot me a PM if you like.

Sal

[MartyMcFly1]

on a different note, i train almost all of my females looking to get in shape in powerlifting. the results EVERY... and i mean EVERY time = what they want. just a thought.

[MartyMcFly1]

Originally Posted by BigCracker

Take a peak at the other active PT thread. You will see that I'm not alone. Would I be a better person if I offered false promises, smoke, and mirrors, like 90% of the PT's out there??? I'm not that desperate, so I can pick and choose my clientele based on my own screening process.

You'd be surprised how many non-fitness enthusiasts believe that they can have an awesome bod just by circuit training 3x a week without giving up booze, McDonalds, and a demanding social life. Telling some to give up their daily 2 liter of Coca Cola alone often illicits a look on their faces as if I asked them to give up sex or oxygen.

HAHAHHAHAHA
oh man the last sentence made me lose it!